Reddened eyes

Red eyes, or ‘red eyes’, is a generic term for red, irritated eyes that look like they are bloodshot. Redness occurs when the tiny blood vessels in the eye become enlarged or inflamed. It is usually a reaction to something that irritates the eye. Eye redness can affect one or both eyes and can develop over time or occur suddenly, for example as a result of an allergy or an eye injury.

Red eyes can also be a sign of many other disorders. Although it may seem threatening, it is usually a symptom of a minor condition such as conjunctivitis. But if your eyes are painful, it can also betray a more serious eye condition or disease.

If red eyes are painless, it is probably caused by a minor problem such as conjunctivitis or a broken blood vessel. These conditions do not normally affect vision and often improve within a week or two with minimal intervention.

“An eye specialist at Optikos Pasaulio will identify the cause of your symptoms and offer treatment.

Common causes:

• Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the thin layer of tissue that covers the eyeball and the inner surfaces of the eyelids. The blood vessels swell, causing one or both eyes to look bloodshot or feel as if they are “full of gravel”. Other symptoms may include itching, watery eyes and clumped eyelashes.

Conjunctivitis can be caused by an infection, an allergy (for example to pollen) or an irritant such as chlorine or dust. Treatment will depend on what caused the illness. Sometimes no treatment is needed because the condition improves on its own.

• Missing blood vessel

The rupture of blood vessels on the surface of the eye is sometimes caused by tension, coughing or injury to the eye, leading to bright red spots. It may look threatening, especially if you are taking medicines such as aspirin or warfarin, but it is not normally a serious condition and should resolve itself within a few weeks.

• Iritas

Iritis is inflammation of the iris, the coloured part of the eye. It can cause red eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision and/or headaches. Iritis usually responds quickly to treatment with steroids to reduce inflammation. Iritis rarely causes serious health problems.

• Acute glaucoma

Acute glaucoma refers to increased intraocular pressure in the eye. The eye may be very red and painful, the general feeling of well-being may be poor and you may see halos around lights. Your vision may be blurred or hazy. This is a serious disease and can lead to total loss of vision if not treated quickly.

• Ragenos ulcer

Corneal ulcers can make the eye red and sensitive to light, and can make it feel as if there is a foreign body in the eye. Corneal ulcers of bacterial origin are more common in people who wear contact lenses. Viral corneal ulcers are more common in people who have frequent colds. More severe forms of ulcers can lead to loss of vision if not treated quickly.

• Corneal abrasion or foreign body in the eye

Redness and pain in the eye can sometimes be caused by a particle, such as a grain of sand, getting into the eye. If there is something in your eye, the eye specialist will try to remove it using an anaesthetic.

An eye care professional can usually determine the cause of red eyes by listening to the symptoms you are experiencing. Although red eyes usually go away on their own, red eyes can sometimes signal a more serious eye condition or disease.

See your eye doctor if you experience:

• Red eyes are painful;
• You may also experience other symptoms, including blurred vision, sensitivity to light, severe headaches and nausea;
• You’ve recently injured your eye – especially if someone has punctured it.